New Mario Kart and Smash Bros. trailers

Did you buy a Nintendo Wii U? You brave thing. How's it doing? We've found ours to be a great paper weight, while the controllers make for wonderful lap trays.

It's been all too easy to poke fun at Nintendo's plucky console, with Super Mario 3D World one of its few exclusives to gain critical acclaim. But 2014 may be about to change the Wii U's fate, with Nintendo pulling two more nuggets from the their gold-plated franchise bag.

The latest trailer for Mario Kart 8, teaming with "Wahoo!" and red shell action, reveals new tracks at a 'real world' airport and atop the clouds of Mushroom Kingdom. Several elements have been adapted from the 3DS title Mario Kart 7, such as the glider ability, with new anti-gravity skills joining the franchise.

And if karts aren't your thing (though they surely must be?), there's a new trailer for Super Smash Bros. 4, revealing Super Mario Galaxy's Rosalina and Luma as new playable characters.

There's no word on exact release dates for either title, but both are expected to be with us by mid 2014. We're off to wipe the spag bol off our controllers.